MovieChat Forums > Shingeki no Kyojin (2013) Discussion > How do I get my gal pal to get into anim...

How do I get my gal pal to get into anime and watch this show?

posted 10 years ago by hawsman2-1
22 replies | jump to latest

I have a friend who's never watched anime. She's breaking away from her stereotype pop centric life and getting into some nerdier headier stuff. Anyways, I want to get her to the level where Attack on Titan would be appropriate to share, but this is pretty hardcore. She's a girl stereotype for the most part and you gotta be sensitive to someone who's not into bloody stuff. But I also don't want to go too light, and I don't want to go too old so that she can dismiss it. So what anime are out there for a beginners in their mid 20's?

I thought maybe Death Note, but I'll save that for the intermediate course to show anime doesn't have to be action all the time. I'm tossing a coin on the original Full Metal Alchemist cuz it was 26 eps, but the animations a little tiny bit dated. I'm also staying away from school-life animes as we're older than that. The protagonists don't need to be adults, I'm just saying the theme shouldn't be school centric

[–] ScottMerica 10 years ago

Cowboy Bebop. Its a very grounded and adult show, with great characters and good mix of drama, action and comedy. Its not extremely violent but doesn't shy away from, say, blood splattering if someone gets shot. You could say it looks a bit "dated", but the style is so fast and fluid that it's not an issue. I'd say Bebop is the perfect anime for beginners because of the reasons I stated above plus it's not too long and feels more American than Japanese. Oh yeah, and the soundtrack is incredible too

[–] hawsman2-1 10 years ago

Nah. Bebop's too old first off, and second I didn't enjoy it myself. Watching Bebop was like playing Destiny. Everything cool had already happened in the past and what we're doing here is just blah. There's 3 episodes that actually contribute to an overall plot. Samurai Champloo would be closer to the mark, but I still don't think that's the one to start with.

[–] ScottMerica 10 years ago

Fair enough, well how about anything from Studio Ghibli? Pretty much all those movies are classics in the genre, and range from being for kids, to being for families and for adults.

[–] zecon202 10 years ago

Finally someone I can see eye to eye with, I also didn't care for Bebop, I also detest school life romance anime. Here's some anime which I think is perfect for both male and female watchers, Eureka 7, Code Geass, The Count of Monte Cristo, Baccano, and if you want something newer Gargantia.

[–] watcher101 10 years ago

I'm really into anime, but my brother, not so much. I try and get him to watch some with me, the ones that I know he'll like, but he almost immediately dismissing it before even watching once he finds out it's an anime. So what I do is describe the plot without telling him it's an anime. If it catches his interest, I'll tell him it's an anime, then I can usually get him to watch a trailer. If he thinks it's interesting, he'll give it a shot. I did that with Highschool of the DEAD, and he fell in love with it. I've also gotten him to give this show a chance, though he hasn't gotten to it yet, but wants to.

[–] triachgul3 10 years ago

Everything cool had already happened in the past and what we're doing here is just blah.

You sound like fun...

[–] Ozonez 10 years ago

Spirited away or something like Ponyo or Howls Moving Castle are pretty good.

They're both animes with a slight "Pixar" kind of storyline going on. They're more lighthearted and have more magical, adventurous type stuff in them.

If she likes them, move straight to Princess Mononoke. I would never start someone who isn't into anime with Princess Mononoke. It is an AMAZING movie and my favourite Studio Ghibli film but it has a lot of depth and requires a lot of thinking. Nothing is ever fully explained either.

DO NOT start her off with Grave of the Fireflies!!!

[–] Bezki 10 years ago

I'd suggest.

Ghost in the Shell Movie.

Planetes.

Eureka Seven

Claymore

Highschool of the Dead

Gun Grave

Bleach? Maybe too long but very much filler you can skip.

[–] MasterMoron 10 years ago

I can't believe people are actually suggesting Eureka 7 as a show to get people into anime. That show was incredibly slow paced. It got terrible ratings when it aired on Adult Swim.

[–] Bezki 10 years ago

Meh. Don't tell me how my opninion should be like.

[–] The_Frennis 10 years ago

I'm far from being an anime expert, but I've seen my share of films and series. I think something along the lines of "Princess Mononoke" would be a good starting point; it's not hyper-violent, has a female protagonist, and follows a more Western style of story telling. Plus, it's an amazing film!

Trying is the first step towards failure Homer Simpson

[–] coolsalami2002 10 years ago

Avatar for sure!! its badass, hilarious, has deep themes, and not bloody at all

[–] fun-niji 10 years ago

As a girl, sorry and no offence to actual girls who did comment but I couldn't tell if there were female commentators, I would first try to understand her taste. Like really... understand. You gave us a (brief) description of her based on what you know. But as you are the one who knows this person, I am guessing you understand her more than you can tell us.

So, based on your deep level of understanding of this person, go with that. And then pair this selection with a selection of your own which you think trumps out most biases, if you catch my drift.

And... seriously... old anime? I'll have you know Old School anime is just as awesome as current animes.

I got into anime in 1999. Before that, I knew nothing of it and made fun of my younger brothers for liking 'cartoons'. But I got into Fushigi Yuugi, which I didn't know was an old-ish anime. And since then Flame of Recca, Samurai X (or Rurouni Kenshin, DBZ) and so forth.

What appealed to me about FY is that it touched on things I, at that age, was interested or curious about. My views of FY has changed but I still love it for nostalgic reasons.

So... as for your girl friend/ girlfriend... like I said, your understanding of her is better than us. Go for what you think she will react towards to, and then include also another anime you generally think is amazing. Two choices. Three at most, for back-up.

EDIT: I just took a little offence... FMA's animation a little dated? For real? Mah, well it's down to taste but FMA still looks good. And did I tell you old school animes are just as good? For example, Flame of Recca still kicks ass. Most of the fight sequences are hand-drawn and it beats a lot of other current shonen animes in fight sequences. Hello... don't be so biased. Most people got into anime not because it looks cool or the animation is current or unbelievable. It's because the story-lines and characters are amazing.
You're basically narrowing your options here if you exclude other animes, and I really doubt your friend doesn't have the smarts because you, yourself, have said she's trying for "nerdier headier" stuff. Not saying the pop centric crowd lack brains but you're being too biased and stereotypical. Seems to me you have a crush on this girl ^^
And who cares if she doesn't get into anime in the end? You two will still be friends, right? Many other interests to share over.

[–] jdagd68278 10 years ago

Are you looking for something that you'd both enjoy together? Or are you just looking for anything that will get her into anime?

I always liked Princess Mononoke.. or Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Though I don't know whats considered too violent for her, so I don't know if these would be too much.?

I mean, I'm female myself and I do not like looking at blood or gore. But I didn't find Attack on Titan to be so bad.

[–] Lord-Bigglesworth 10 years ago

Start her off with some Hentai

You'd feel cocky too if you were full of myself.

[–] manbok21 10 years ago

Anything with these words in it: Ghost in the Shell.

The series, the movies, anything. When it comes to Anime, there is nothing like it.